♔ cinq || a queen of england will be burned

[ensorceler]

[Micheletto]

You will say nothing.

[/Micheletto]

[Morgana]

My lady.

[/Morgana]

[Sherlock Holmes]

The gospels preach forgiveness, and I would hold it out to you with my own hand. I so rarely offer a third chance, but scholars are much needed in any court. I know wit when I hear it.

If you offer your allegiance, not to England but to your temporary home and territory, then you will be gently handled and well paid for your sharp mind and sharper insights.

[/Sherlock Holmes]

[Spike Spiegel]

Do you, sir, desire for another attempt to win my favor and affections?

[/Spike Spiegel]

Comments

[gottaknockhard]

[He shakes one out and puts it between his lips. When did they invent them, anyway? Way after her time, sure, but she's had to have seen someone else with them enough to get the idea.]

It's a cigarette. You smoke them. [Pulling out the lighter, he moved on to demonstrate. If she doesn't like it, he'll put it out. A few drags should last him for a while anyway.]

[ensorceler]

Oh. I suppose every culture has its own...charms.

[ The lighter she has witnessed before here, at least, though it still mystifies her as much as most things in Paradisa. She just shrugs, and reaches to push open the window a touch so it doesn't get too smokey, and any problem is clearly solved if it's her permission he wanted. She doesn't mind the brisk air, used to it to a certain degree.

Besides, it's perfect timing for the sunrise, so she's going to enjoy that and try not to stare too much at what he's doing. ]

[gottaknockhard]

[By the time he's inhaled and exhaled, it occurs to him that he may have picked a bad time to introduce his bad habits. (And almost immediately after that, he determines that it was worth it.)

Still, it put an awkward turn in their conversation. He can't quite tell if she's curious or disgusted, but after a span of abnormal quiet, he pipes up.]

You can have one if you want.

[ensorceler]

[ Both eyebrows raise at that offer. She's had to wrinkle her nose a bit at the smoke itself, not finding it pleasant at all like other herbs.

Still, she can't deny her own curiosity, especially when she has no consequences to fear. ]

Well, it would be rude to deny such a kind offer.

[ Anne had watched him go about it, but she's still a little unsure of how to proceed. Lighters make her nervous, and how deeply is she supposed to breathe? Is she supposed to hold it in? How long? Oh, stupid foreign etiquette. ]

[gottaknockhard]

[He grins, obviously pleased that she sided with curious. He lifts the pack up for her, a couple of sticks already half out to make it easy for her to take.

The lighter she doesn't have to worry herself about. Once she has one in her hand, he'll be a gentleman and light the end for her. After that, he'll unwedge the one he has hanging from his mouth and watch.]

It's less of a hassle than a pipe. [If that puts it in context. He's not all that sure what people smoked in her time.] People are always coming up with something better.

[ensorceler]

[ She stays perfectly still while he lights it, but doesn't try anything immediately, instead just staring at it for a moment, upside and this way and that, before she takes a tentative pull.

Immediately she turns away to cough out a puff of smoke, grabbing her napkin so she at least has something to cough into. Ugh, wow, her eyes have watered a little. ]

What... What is the appeal of this...hobby?

[gottaknockhard]

[So she may never have smoked a pipe before either. That's alright, not everyone is a natural.]

Some people say it relieves stress. [See how well it works on him?] Once you get it down.

[ensorceler]

Is that so? A medicinal herb, then.

[ She inspects the cigarette again, then watches him before trying again, much more gently this time. There's still a small cough or two as she exhales, but she looks entertained. ]

I have to say, the flavor leaves something to be desired. It can only be medicine.

[gottaknockhard]

[She's a good sport. Spike may be enjoying her commentary even more than the job offer. It's a rare day that he gets to witness someone's first experience with smoking, let alone a queen.

The little things.]

It grows on you. [As he watched her, he nearly forgot about his own cigarette, which he expertly draws like he's taking in a breath of oxygen. At least from him, she won't hear about it being anything but.]

[ensorceler]

[ If nothing else, Anne is a quick learner, though she'll rarely fail to try to add her own twist to anything. This might take some time, for now she'll just be taking small drags, experimenting with how long she can hold the smoke and how smoothly she can exhale without losing her composure.

The giddy buzz she feels only makes her smile brighter, as she alternates between that and her wine while continuing to enjoy the sight of the sunrise. Maybe she can understand some of the appeal. ]

For a moment it was as if my heart hummed.

[gottaknockhard]

[How to Charm Spike 101.

He's impressed she's sticking with it. Honestly, he's never faced the kind of criticism he gets about smoking since he arrived here, so it's refreshing that someone doesn't turn their nose up at the sight of them.]

There's a few things I could introduce you to.

[ensorceler]

Yes?

[ Well, so far this experiment is going just great, so she's curious for more. She gets bored far too often here with so little to do, and learning about other cultures is always useful. ]

What sort of things?

[gottaknockhard]

[He lifts up the wine in front of him while he thinks of where to start.]

Have you ever tried a cocktail?

[ensorceler]

[ She glances to the goblet, then back to him, assuming from context he is...probably not talking about chickens. ]

I have not. What is it? Another remedy?

[gottaknockhard]

You could say that. [It's no wonder. Nobody would stick to drinking wine if they knew about their options.]

We'll put it on the list.